Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘This body and mind is like a waterfall. A river flows past a place where there is a change of height, and a waterfall is formed. Yet there is no such thing as a waterfall, only a continuous flow of water. A waterfall is not a thing but rather a name for a process of happening. This body and mind is like a waterfall. We cannot distinguish where the waterfall sarts and ends because it is a continuous process. Since there is no “I” no substance called Shohaku Okumura, I cannot say “I” will disappear. This is the meaning of “do not appear or disappear.” It refers to this body and mind and to all beings. It is not about mysterious beings beyond the phenomenal world. This is very clear, ordinary reality, and yet we cannot define it, so it is strange and wondrous. We see things happening every moment, and yet we cannot grasp them. That is the meaning of wondrous dharma. We cannot grasp it, and yet it is not mysterious. It is ordinary things happening every day. For instance, this is a book, this is a desk, this is my robe, and this is Shohaku Okumura.

These are like definitions we can find in the dictionary. We think these things exist in a fixed way because they are defined in the dictionary but it’s not true.’ (Living By Vow)